An al-Qaeda-affiliated group has taken responsibility for a predawn assault in Bamako, Mali’s capital.
Armed attackers targeted a military training school and other strategic locations, with the army labeling them “terrorists.”
Residents reported gunfire as the assault unfolded near the city’s airport. The military later stated that the situation was “under control.”
The group, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimin (JNIM), has been engaged in a militant Islamist insurgency in Mali for over a decade, conducting numerous attacks across the Sahel region.
In a statement, JNIM claimed its operation resulted in significant human and material losses at the training center and military airport.
While the army did not confirm any casualties, they noted that assailants attempted to infiltrate the Faladie gendarmerie school early in the morning. Two security personnel were reported injured.
Malian state television later aired footage of approximately 20 blindfolded prisoners, with army chief Oumar Diarra declaring that the “terrorists have been neutralized” and the sweep was ongoing. However, he did not acknowledge JNIM’s claims regarding the military airport.
In the aftermath of the attack, the security ministry reassured residents that they could continue their daily activities, although international organizations, including the UN, advised staff to limit their movements.
Videos circulated online showed smoke billowing from the affected area as locals heading to morning prayers were forced to turn back. Modibo Keita International Airport has been closed as a precaution.
This incident follows a military coup in 2021, which ousted the previous government over its perceived inability to combat the insurgency.
Since then, the military has expelled French forces and UN peacekeepers, turning to Russia’s Wagner group for support, yet the violence continues unabated.
